Time for repair

Geronimo continues to make slow progress north

Day 45 0300	Position	24hr run	Av speed	Rel position
Geronimo	38°54S 49°14W	233nm	9.72	+240nm*
Orange	45°45S 35°35W	506nm	21.06	-

*This position is relative to a waypoint off Brazil and is fairly inaccurate because as the chart illustrates Geronimo is choosing a more direct up the South Atlantic than Orange did.

Geronimo's position at 15:00 GMT today 36°48S 48°32W
Distance travelled in 12 hours : 127 nautical miles
Average speed over the last 12 hours: 10,58 knots


Since this morning, Geronimo has been on the wind to try and force her way through the centre of a small depression to her north. The Cap Gemini and Schneider Electric sponsored crew then hope to pick up the northern edge of the low pressure area and catch its westerly winds. As they wait, the crew have continued to use today's calms to overhaul the entire boat as she runs at reduced speed.

"Flat calm and the wind right behind us: we're a long way from the galloping return leg we had on Sport Elec or even on Lyonnaise des Eaux. We've given the mast a major check-up and changed the lashings and the main track travellers. We've also made the most of our situation to seal the dagger board housing, turn the halyards and sheets and dismantle the winch heads, as well as refitting our navigation lights and turning off our transmitters to wipe the data, etc.", says skipper Olivier de Kersauson.

The small sea bird rescued by the crew last Friday has now flown away. "He perked up once we got him on board. We fed him some fish and he must be the only bird around here to have tasted olive oil. We were happy and proud of the care we were able to give him and although it wasn't much, it was done with great care and affection.

"Nevertheless, it's amazing. He was with us for about 30 hours and didn't even try to fly inside the boat. He'd clearly recovered and now he's gone. Everyone was pleased to see him fly off so strongly, because he wasn't too hot when we found him", reports the skipper.